Reptile & Amphibian Forums

SO I just completed the construction of this new cage. It might not be much to look at but it is more functional than display.

It measures 2x2x6

It has a galvanized bucket at the bottom that hold a mixture of soil to burrow

it has 2 flood lights where temps at the top reach 130 and the bottom int0 the 100's...yet there are alos areas to cool like down at the soil it is in the mid to high 70's

It has multiple places to climb and hide the whole cage is useable...no dead space.

So my quesiton is; What shoudl i put in it....i had a timor but he was too reclusive and i never saw him....I would like to have an ackie but i dont think this is really what they require....and i dont think any of the tree monitors will fit as adults...Any ideas?
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Scott
"The most powerful person never has to use it"

V. similis,V. tristis tristis, V.timorensis( all in pairs or small groups)

>>V. similis,V. tristis tristis, V.timorensis( all in pairs or small groups)

Ok so my question now is what is the difference in temperment? I had a timor....and He was pretty flighty and I could never really get a good look at him....AND...where can i get a gorup or even an individual. IDEAS?
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Scott
"The most powerful person never has to use it"

Kingsnake classidied section(monitors). All three should be available, with slim pickings for V.similis.

Many poeple report V. similis to be " like a bold timor "

...If you're looking for an animal that will be nice,calm and interactive, a fair share of that will depend on your husbandry skills. Never be in high hopes,it's a relationship that you will have to build in time. Never give it a reason to hate you.

I recommend groups or pairs in hopes they might breed, but animals also act differently in numbers(safety in numbers).

Thanks for the advice on the classifieds...I didnt really look there I like dealing wiht local breeders...but i iwll glance through and see hwat is available...was also hoping to get contacted by some one who had one...wink wink.....

Yes husbandry has alot to do with the way that they act....I kept a timor for a year and the less i did..the less he came out,,,,I relly onl og into the cage for spot cleaning or to give food....he would tolerate me in short increments as long as i didnt get too close to the cage....I am not interested in somehting i can handel etc... but it is always nice to be able to wlak inot the room and know somehting is in there and too see visually that the animal is healthy....But it really only takes short glances to see body weight etc.

I will look for something on classifieds....agian Thanks
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Scott
"The most powerful person never has to use it"

Might be a bit small for V.tristis as well. You would probably be ok with V.similis in there. One thing I would suggest for them is to provide lots of tight fitting cork hollows. This species makes extensive use of tree hollows. I positioned them at varying heights and temps in my setup to give them plenty of options. I would also recommend tossing some oak leaves on top of the soil. It will give them something to forage in and help keep the humidity up.

cheers
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Steve

I know it is hard to see but there are an extensive amount of tight hides...the halved treee on the right is completely hollow against the cage so they can hide in there there is even a hanging stack at the very top for them to wedge themselves in....I live in FL so keeping up with humdity isnt too much of a problem but i liek the idea of extra things to keep thjier mind occupied so i will defiantly go forudge up some leaves.

Thankks for the input
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Scott
"The most powerful person never has to use it"

I can see you have some good hides in there but V.similis and many other arboreal monitors really like to hang out in hollow snags and I would still recommend adding a couple. They will hang out with just their head sticking out and watch from there. It is a really cool behavior to get to see. I will try to snap some pics of mine doing it so you can see what I am talking about.

cheers
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Steve

Well is a cage really ever done? there is always more you can do....I will defaintly put som emore place to hide and climb on....even the sides ar made to climb up.....I would love to see pics
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Scott
"The most powerful person never has to use it"

Here are a few pics I took today. Sorry they aren't the best quality.

Cheers
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Steve

Nice pics.....that gives me several ideas....just have to wait a bit so i can get the money together to get all that cork.

Thanks
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Scott
"The most powerful person never has to use it"